Christmas 2013

Monday, December 30

Kevin and I have been living a perpetual Christmas this whole past week,

and i'm sadly mourning the end of it!

We started our festivities a week ago, as I spent the actual Christmas Eve and day with Kev's family.

This is a big deal for me, as it's the first Christmas i've EVER spent apart from my family in our 3 years of marriage! I was nervous…but truly, it was so much fun:) As much as I missed my family, I adore Kev's fam!

We spent Christmas Eve in Pismo Beach, running on the beach in the early morning, and opening gifts and having a lovely meal later in the day.

Christmas day was all activities with Kev's family…opening gifts, listening to our sweet niece recite the Christmas story, stuffing ourselves with delish food (ohhhh man, I discovered these ridiculously amazing gluten and dairy free dark chocolates with sea salt from Trader Joes, and am pretty sure I at 90% of the bag! whoops…), and ending the day seeing "Saving Mr. Banks" in the theatre with the whole family. Friends…I think that has become one of my favorite movies…it was SOOO cute!

The 26th Kev and I drove up to Northern California, where i'm from. And finally…FINALLY…it felt like Christmas as the temperature dropped a bit! Did I mention it was 85 degrees on Christmas in where we celebrated? The NERVE! I'm pretty sure NO ONE should ever be sweating on Christmas. Global warming…I think it's real:)

I digress.

We've spent the last 4 days with my family and it has been divine! I don't want to go home! My whole family was here, all cousins and aunts and uncles and grandparents and it was just so so cozy sitting by the fire, drinking massive amounts of tea, opening presents, watching movies, playing games, and laughing! My mom is the queen of festivities and the house was so beautifully decorated.

I love this season, and I'm thankful for wonderful people to share it with.

How was your Christmas? What are you doing for New Years?

much love,

Katie

{every year my sweet dad loves to set up this little village!}

{i love nativity sets…especially this adorable one below!}

{my sweet sister and our cute Westie named Nellie}

{every year someone receives a gag gift. My uncle who grew up in England loves to gift the "spotted dick"….

Aw, how darling. Looks like a warm gathering! That Christmas tree is huuuge! haha! I cannot wait to actually get to decorate and take part in the holiday cheer next year since this year I was too busy moving.

uh - that house is INCREDIBLE.the pictures = love.your dress = love!and its always a challenge to switch things up, but more often than not they make great memories!Glad y'all had such a lovely Christmas season!

I'm so glad you had such wonderful Christmas celebrations - and especially that Christmas away from your family was good. The first year Nate and I were married was spent with his family and, although it was SO different for me, I really enjoyed it.

I still haven't seen Saving Mr. Banks, but I really want to! Your love of it only makes me want to see it MORE! :)

Also, I love every single thing about this post. I know it was your first Christmas day to not be with your family, but it looks like you still had an incredible time with Kevin's family. All those beautiful decorations, that gorgeous tree (I've never seen one like that), the food, the laughter, the family... it's just wonderful. :)

I'm sure it was hard being away from your family at Christmas, but yay for new memories! We have a family joke that my husband's dad tells all the grandchildren. He asks the grand-daughters "how do you know if the guy is the right one to marry?" and the CORRECT response should be "if he allows all Christmas's at grand-dads" haha! unfortunately, it doesn't work that way, but it's quite funny :) lovely photos by the way!